Range Rover Velar awarded five ANCAP stars

The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) has given the Range Rover Velar a five-star crash safety rating this week, with the premium mid-size SUV scoring strongly across all four testing categories.

Applying to every Velar variant sold from last month onwards, the five-star result was underpinned by a score of 35.5 out of 38 points (93 per cent) in the 'Adult Occupant Protection' category.

Maximum points (eight out of eight) were awarded in the side impact at 50km/h and oblique pole at 32km/h crash tests, with all parts of the dummy occupants provided 'good' protection.

Another solid score (7.40 out of eight) came from the frontal offset at 64km/h crash test, which again saw occupants offered 'good' protection, aside from the driver's chest and left lower leg that was assessed as 'acceptable'.

Meanwhile, the full-width frontal at 50km/h crash test netted 7.20 out of eight points, with 'acceptable' and 'marginal' protection provided for the driver and rear passenger's chests respectively. All other body parts were 'good', except for the rear passenger's neck that had 'acceptable' protection.

The whiplash protection test earned the Velar 1.92 out of three points, with this score impacted by 'marginal' protection for rear passenger necks, while front passenger necks were 'good'.

Additionally, the 'Child Occupant Protection' category returned a score of 41.85 out of 49 (85 per cent), with six- and 10-year-old dummies offered 'good' or 'adequate' protection in the frontal offset test, expect for the 10-year-old's neck which was 'marginal'.

Protection was 'good' for all parts of both dummies in the side impact test, while child safety features and seat installation were given full points.

The 'Pedestrian Protection' category saw the Velar awarded 31.29 out of 42 points (74 per cent), with 'good' or 'adequate' provided for a pedestrian's head across most of the bonnet's surface, but 'weak' and 'poor' results were assessed on the stiffer A-pillars.

'Good' protection was offered by the front bumper to a pedestrian's legs, but testing of their pelvis area was mixed, with 'good' and 'poor' assessments made.

A score of 8.75 out of 12 points (72 per cent) was achieved in the 'Safety Assist' category, with the standard inclusion of autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, intelligent seatbelt reminders and a manual speed limiter contributing towards the result.

Testing was conducted this year by ANCAP's European offshoot, Euro NCAP, using a Velar fitted with a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine.

The 50-variant Range Rover Velar line-up is now on sale, with prices ranging from $70,662 before on-road costs for the entry-level P250 to $168,862 for the P380 First Edition flagship.

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